Liquid spray washing apparatus



April 14, 1964 s. H. KAUFMAN LIQUID SPRAY WASHING APPARATUS Filed Aug.8, 1962 United States Patent O 3,128,949 LlQUID SPRAY WASHING APPARATUSSherman Harold Kaufman, 137 Thompson St., New Haven, Conn. Filed Aug. 8,1962, Ser. No. 215,668 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-312) This invention relatesgenerally to a liquid spraying device, particularly to such a deviceadapted to spray a liquid cleaning solution and/or a rinsing fluid, andmore par-ticul'arly to such a device which is particularly well suitedto operate off of a common garden hose and wash automobiles.

Many devices -are known to the prior art for use in Washing variousobjects with soap solutions. However, these have various deficiencies.'For example, many such devices utilize solid soaps in water-tightchambers and force iluids through the chambers to form a soap solution.One disadvantage of devices employing solid soaps is that, as they areused during the Washing process, they are expended and the strength ofthe solution becomes more and more diluted. Another disadvantage is thatsoap remaining in the chamber becomes lumpy, clogs the openings of theapparatus, makes it diicult to clean, and creates many other problems.

It has also been proposed to employ liquid soaps or detergents in suchdevices. The prior art devices utilizing liquid soaps yalso have anumber of drawbacks. One such drawback is that many devices of this typehave a large number of parts and are, therefore, complex and expensive.Other known prior -art devices employing liquid cleaning solutionsrequire the expenditure of soap solution and rinsing iluid at the samerate. This uses large quantities of soap or detergent and is highlywasteful. Other known prior art devices utilize compressed air. Theselatter devices require extra equipment and are therefore, expensive.Furthermore, when using these devices, damage may result to highlypolished surfaces, such as painted automobile finishes, because of thehigh velocity discharge of various impurities and solid particles thatmay be contained in the water or cleaning solution.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved spray washing device.

-Another object of this invention is to provide such a device which issimple and has few parts, many of which are standard availablecomponents.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device whichutilizes liquid cleaning solutions.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device wherein theow lrate of the liquid cleaning solution may be low While that of therinse solution may be high.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device whereincompressed `air is not required.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device, theoperation of which may be controlled by a single valve control member.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device whereinaccurate control of the type of soap solution spnay produced by thedevice is aiiorded.

The manner in which the above objects are attained will be more apparentfrom the following description, the appended claims and the figures ofthe attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of one embodiment of this inventionshown connected -to a garden hose and being used Ito wash a car;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional illustration of the FIG. l embodiment ofthis invention taken along the lines 2 2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the device of FIG. 2;

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FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view of the aspiratormechanism of this invention;

F-IG. 5 is a cross-sectional view `taken along lines 5-#5 of FIGS. Zand3, and

FIG. 6 is Ian illustration of a further embodiment of this invention.

In FIG. l, one useful application of the invention is pictoriallyillustrated as involving the connection of the inventive device,designated generally G, to a conventional garden hose H, and itsutilization by being held by the hand U of a user to wash an lautomobileC. Device G comprises a double-barrelled gun-like structure having atrigger, a rinse spray nozzle assembly N and a soap solution spraynozzle assembly S. In FIG. l, both sprays of rinse water W yand soapsolution D are shown as being produced and ejected.

Some of the constructionfal features of the FIGS. l-5 embodiment of thisinvention yare illustrated in detail in FIG. 2, wherein it will lbe seen:that device G generally comprises an L-shaped body having a watersupply conduit 10, forming a piston-like grip adapted to be held by thehand of la user and provided with a female coupling 12 at the inlet endthereof for connection to a water supply, such as a garden hose. Withincoupling 12 there is positioned -a rubber or soft plastic sealing washer1'3, for sealing with the usual Water supply coupler, which includes,integral therewith, Ia Wire mesh strainer 11 for straining impuritiesfrom -water that ilows through the conduit from 'the water supply inoperation. At the outlet end of conduit 1li there is a main valveincluding a valve disc 14 which seats against a valve seat 15 formedtherein and is urged thereagainst by a suitable compression spring |16.A threaded plug 17 ordinarily retains but `allows removal of spring 16and valve disc 14 from the body. Integral with valve disc 14 is anactuating pin 18 which extends through a removable and adjustablesealing bushing 20 to the exterior of the body. An actuating trigger 22is hinged on pin 24 mounted in the body in such a manner as to beselectively manually depressible toward said body against pin 18 tounseat disc 14 from the valve seat`15, butto normally be biased by saidpin away therefrom.

By this main valve, water fed to conduit 10 may pass through the openedmain valve into a discharge conduit 26 which forms part of the body andis disposed at an angle to conduit 1t?. The down-stream end of the bodywhich forms conduit 26 is provided with external screw threads 23 towhich is secured -a tubular member 30. Member 30 is internally threadedat one end to effect such securement, and to its other end is attachedthe rinse nozzle assembly N, which is of the type commonly employed forgarden hose nozzles. Rinse nozzle assembly N includes a nozzle body 32and an adjustable collar 34 which adjustably screws onto threads 35 overa central pin member 36 which carries a valve disc 38, both the threadsand pin member being formed `on the housing 32. By screwing collar 34onto threads 35, valve seat 40 formed internally in collar 34 may becaused to seat against Valve disc 33, thereby `shutting off the watersupply, if the main valve is opened, from rinse nozzle assembly N `ormoved away therefrom to allow Water to flow therethrough.

'Ilappred `into tubular member 36 intermediate Iits ends and at one sidethereof its a short pipe 42. An elbow 44 is attached to pipe 42 andallows Water to ilow into soap solution spray nozzle -assembly Sincluding a petcock type valve 46, when the main valve is opened. Valve46 includes -a housing 47 having a passageway therein and a notarypetcock member 48 which intersects the passage and has a transversefluid bore 4therein which may be either Ialigned with the passageway inhousing 47 in the position shown in PEG. 2, or turned transversely outof alignment by rotating the petcook member to prevent any water passingtherethrough to the soap solution spray nozzle assembly. The outlet ofthe passageway of valve 46 communicates with a jet nozzle Si) formed atone end of housing 47 and of reduced cross section relative to thepassageway, which creates and passes a high velocity jet of water intoand through a chamber '52 formed in a -tting 74 that is secured to valvehousing 47. Chamber 52 comprises a mixing and metering chamber forwater, air and cleaning solution and vfor convenience will be referredto as a yvacuum chamber. From vacuum chamber 52 the water passes intopassageway 53, that is of larger diameter than jet nozzle 50, form-:d inspray nozzle 54 which may be provided at its free end with a transversedischarge straight slot orir'lce 56 adapted to provide a flat fan-shapedspray. `It will subsequently be seen that elements 50, 52 and 53, takenwith associated elements to be described, form an aspirator.

Communicating with aspirator vacuum chamber 52 is a rigid cleaningsolution tube 58, which preferably is metallic. A section of relativelyexible tubing 6i) is connected to tube 58 and extends into a suitablereceptacle 62, such as a plastic bottle, adapted to hold the cleaningsolution. Receptacle 62 is mounted on the soap solution spray nozzleassembly by means of a screw cap 64 to which it is detachably secured.

The aspirator mechanism including the cap 64, solution tube 58 andflexible tubing 60 structural relationship, is shown in detail in theenlarged cross-section of FIG. 4. To the outer lower surface of vacuumchamber fitting 74 a rigid Washer 76 is secured. Washer 76 and tting 74may be of any suitable material, preferably metallic. In one embodimentof this invention, for example, these members are of brass and brazedtogether. A bottle cap 64, which may be of plastic, is secured, as bycementing, to washer 76. A screw 78, which, in the illustratedembodiment, is a rather large round headed brass machine screw, isanchored in a threaded bore formed partially in the top of cap 64,washer 76 and fitting 74. Screw 78 is bored completely along and throughits longitudinal axis and its end 80 may be reamed so as to have aconical taper. Tube 58, which may also be brass, is rigidly connected toscrew 78 as by being inserted into the bore provided in screw 78 and theend of the tube is ared by well-known techniques to prevent withdrawalof the tube from the screw and provide a tight friction fit.Alternatively, the ream at 80 may be omitted and the tube sweated intothe screw. A hole of suitable size is drilled and tapped through the topof cap 64, washer 76, and tting 74 to form the threaded bore into whichthe screw 78 with its contained tube 58 is inserted and anchored.

It will be further noted from FIG. 4 that a vent passage 75 is formedthrough washer 76 and the top of cap 64 to place the interior ofreceptacle 62 into communication with the atmosphere, and a drilled andtapped hole 66 is formed that enters through the side of the aspiratortting 74 into the vacuum chamber S2. Into this hole is threadedlymounted for selective longitudinal adjustment an adjusting screw 6Swhich is suitably tensioned by means of a compressed coil spring 70 soas to be locked in any position of adjustment. Adjusting screw 68includes a threaded shank tip with an axially extending groove 69 formedin its periphery. Groove 69 inclines radially inwardly from a shallowend closest to the head of the screw to a deepest end adjacent the freeend of the shank tip. Longitudinal adjustment of screw 68 exposes agreater or lesser cross-sectional amount of groove 69, therebycontrolling the amount of atmospheric air that is allowed to bleed intovacuum chamber 52 in operation. The amount of air that is allowed to sobleed varies the pressure in the vacuum chamber and determines theamount of cleaning solution that is aspirated out of receptacle 62, asatmospheric pressure is applied to the cleaning solution Within thereceptacle through vent passage 75. This bleed arrangement provides asensitive adjustment for varying the ratio of. aspirated cleaningsolution to water that flows out of soap solution spray nozzle S. Thisis extremely important as it is undesirable to aspirate too muchcleaning solution. Further, this bleed arrangement also permits air toenter the vacuum chamber during aspiration of soap solution and mix withthe water and soap solution to form a uniform and proper spray and avoidforming a sudsy foam, which is both ineffectual as a cleaning agent andwasteful, which will result if proper mixing is not effected in thevacuum chamber. Further, the admission of bleed air into the vacuumchamber contributes materially to the proper aeration of the soapsolution. In general, it is desired to restrict the consumption ofcleaning solution to an economic minimum consistent with providing aspray of suitable consistency and adequate cleaning ability. Theadjustable bleed provided by adjusting screw 68 provides a mechanism toachieve this desire. In practice it has been found that the bleedmechanism may be set so my apparatus, when operated on so-called citywater averaging a pressure of about 70 p.s.i., consumes only 3%; of anounce of cleaning solution to one gallon of water per minute, and thesoap solution spray emanated from nozzle S is sufficiently strong toclean an automobile and of proper consistency.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 willnow be apparent. The coupling 12 attached to the end of a water supplyhose and the receptacle 62 is lled with a suitable cleaning solution,such as a domestic liquid soap or detergent, many of which are on themarket under trademarks, such as Vel, Swan and Lux. When it is desiredto wash an object, such as an automobile, nozzle collar 34 is screwedupon threads 35 to shut olf the water flow valve in the nozzle assemblyN. Petcock valve 48 is then manually opened to the position illustrated.Upon depressing the trigger 22, valve disc 14 is lifted from valve seat15, the main valve is opened, and water ows from the water supply toconduit 10 into conduit 26 and from thence through the pipe 42, elbow44, valve 46, and to jet nozzle 50. The water forms a jet at jet nozzle50 and is ejected through vacuum chamber 52 at high velocity into andthrough the passage 53 in nozzle 54, thereby creating a partial vacuumin chamber S2. The liquid solution, which is subjected to atmosphericpressure through vent hole 75, then rises through tubes 60 and 58 andenters vacuum chamber 52 where it mixes with the water jet, is aeratedby bleed air and passes out of straight slot orifice 52 in the form of aflat, fan-shaped, shampoo-like spray of soapy water.

The object or area thereof being washed is covered with soapy spray, ascanning motion being employed by the user to dislodge dirt withoutcreating any back splash, and valve 46 is closed by rotating petcockelement 48 by 90 to shut olf the supply of water from the soap solutionspray nozzle. Rinse water nozzle N may then be opened by unscrewingnozzle collar 34 and a rinse spray of any desired shape and rate of owafforded by a garden hose nozzle may be projected from the deviceagainst the object which is being washed to work in the soap, furtherdislodge dirt and rinse it way.

If desired, the spray of rinse water may be simultaneously ejected alongwith a spray of soap solution by opening both of the spray nozzles, asshown in FIG. 1. In operation, it is normally desirable to open andclose the nozzle assemblies by actuating collar 34 and petcock valve 48several times as various portions of an object being cleaned aretreated. Great ilexibility is provided in that bleed screw 68 may be setas desired; either, none or both nozzle assemblies N and S may beopened, and the general operation may be controlled by opening andclosing the main water supply by squeezing or releasing trigger 22.

It will be apparent that a number of advantages are achieved by thenovel construction of this device. For

example, solid soaps are not employed, only a liquid soap solution or aliquid detergent. This prevents the problems pointed out above whichoften arise due to the use of solid soaps. Another advantage is that therinse water and the washing solution are provided through two separatenozzles. This means that the fiow rates may be individually varied so asto use a minimum amount of soap solution spray relative to rinse waterspray to accomplish the desired results while still utilizing sufficientwater to rinse properly. This benefit results from dimensioning theseparate nozzles differently so as to provide the desired flow rates.The fact that the two separate nozzles receive water from a commonsource provides still another advantage. This is the advantage ofutilizing a single trigger means to control the ejection of both washingsolution and rinse water sprays. This results in added convenience tothe user. Another advantage results from the mixing and meteringchamberaeration bleed mechanism arrangement which provides for sensitivecontrol of the soap solution spray formed.

Another modification of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. In theembodiment of FIG. 6, many of the elements are similar to thosedescribed relative to FIGS. 2- 5 and the same reference numerals areemployed therefor with a prime added. For clarity, the rinse waternozzle assembly N is shown in phantom lines.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, wherein two soap solution sprays may beformed, the elbow 44 of the FIG. 2 embodiment is replaced by a tee 77which enables water to flow to either or both elbow 79 and elbow 81.From these elbows, water may respectively pass through a petclock valve(45, 46') through an aspirator mechanism similar to that previouslydescribed with regard to FIGS. 1-5, and to a spray nozzle (86, 88).Associated with each of these twin soap solution spray assemblies is acleaning solution receptacle (82, 84).

One of the primary advantages obtainable from the embodiment of FIG. 6is that cleaning solutions of different types and strengths may beprovided for specialized applications. For example, receptacle 82 may befilled with a strong cleaning solution for use on white Walled tires andreceptacle 84 may be filled with a standard solution suitable forcleaning painted automobile bodies. In each instance, the bleedmechanism may be employed to produce the type of spray desired.

It will be noted that, with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, thevarious advantages set forth above in connection with the FIGS. 1-5embodiment are retained. However, an additional advantage is achieved byproviding the ability to use plural types of cleaning solutions.

Although this invention has been described with particular reference toits preferred use as a washing and rinsing apparatus, it is to beunderstood that its possible uses are not, in fact, so limited. Otheriiuids may be used herein besides water and soap or detergents.

The many advantages of this invention over prior art devices will beimmediately apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, the devicesare compact, are low cost to manufacture as they use many readilyavailable standard components, involve only a single connection to agarden hose or the like to render them operable, and require just asingle manual control to operate after being set. It will also beapparent that many modifications of this invention are possible withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, the abovedescription is to be construed as illustrative, rather than limiting.This invention is to be construed as limited only by the scope of thefollowing claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A washing device which comprises a plurality of conduit means; afirst normally closed valve connected to supply, upon actuation,pressurized first fluid to each of said plurality of conduit means;first nozzle means at the outlet of a first of said conduit means, saidrst nozzle means including means for selectively preventing or allowingfluid flow therethrough; cleaning fluid valve means at the outlet ofeach of the remaining conduit means; asprating means at the outlet ofeach of said cleaning fluid valve means, said aspirating means includingaspirated fluid supply means; adjustable air bleed means connected tosaid aspiratiug means to allow controlled passage of atmospheric airinto said aspirating means; and cleaning fluid nozzle means connected toeach of said aspirating means to discharge a spray mixture of air, firstfluid, and aspirated fluid therefrom.

2. The device of claim l wherein said aspirated fluid supply meanscomprises cleaning solution receptacles mounted on said device.

3. A spraying device which comprises, in combination, a first valvehaving its inlet side connectable to a pressurized first liuid source;means for actuating said first valve to allow the passage of first fiuidtherethrough; first nozzle means communicating with the outlet of saidfirst valve to permit the fiow of first fluid therefrom; second valvemeans in cooperative relationship with said first nozzle means toselectively prevent and allow passage of first fluid therethrough; thirdvalve means communicating with the outlet of said first valve means toselectively prevent and allow passage of first fluid therefrom; conduitmeans defining a fluid passage, a first end of said conduit meansconnected to the outlet of said third valve means; second nozzle meansconnected to a second end of said conduit means; aspirator means on theconduit means intermediate said third valve means and said second nozzlemeans and including a vacuum chamber therein; a liquid receptacle; fiuidconduit means connected between said vacuum chamber and said receptaclefor feeding liquid from said receptacle into said chamber; andadjustable air bleed means for permitting atmospheric air to enter thevacuum chamber in a controlled manner.

4. An easily portable hand-held washing device which comprises: a pistolgrip means including a hollow handle defining a water passagetherethrough connectable to a pressurized water source and atrigger-operated valve to selectively allow the passage of watertherethrough; first nozzle means communicating with the outlet of saidfirst valve to permit the flow of water therefrom; second valve means incooperative relationship with said first nozzle means to selectivelyprevent and allow passage of water therethrough; third valve meanscommunicating with the outlet of said first valve means to selectivelyprevent and allow passage of water therefrom; conduit means defining awater passage, a first end of said conduit means connected to the outletof said third valve means; second nozzle means connected to a second endof said conduit means; aspirator means on the conduit means intermediatesaid third valve means and said second nozzle means and including avacuum chamber therein; a cleaning liquid receptacle; cleaning liquidconduit means connected between said vacuum chamber and said receptaclefor feeding liquid from said receptacle into said chamber; andadjustable air bleed means for permitting atmospheric air to enter thevacuum chamber and mix with said water and cleaning liquid in acontrolled manner.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,288,824 Burns Dec. 24, 1918 2,214,083 Lester Sept. 10, 1940 2,501,426Voorhees Mar. 2l, 1950 2,538,850 Simms Ian. 23, 1951 2,716,507 GravesAug. 30, 1955 2,789,010 Dean Apr. 16, 1957 2,908,227 McDougall Oct. 13,1959 2,921,832 Holther Ian. 19, 1960 2,991,939 Packard July l1, 19613,042,314 Packard et al July 3, 1962 3,049,303 Kocher Aug. 14, 19623,064,904 Roberts Nov. 20, 1962

1. A WASHING DEVICE WHICH COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF CONDUIT MEANS; AFIRST NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE CONNECTED TO SUPPLY, UPON ACTUATION,PRESSURIZED FIRST FLUID TO EACH OF SAID PLURALITY OF CONDUIT MEANS;FIRST NOZZLE MEANS AT THE OUTLET OF A FIRST OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS, SAIDFIRST NOZZLE MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY PREVENTING ORALLOWING FLUID FLOW THERETHROUGH; CLEANING FLUID VALVE MEANS AT THEOUTLET OF EACH OF THE REMAINING CONDUIT MEANS; ASPIRATING MEANS AT THEOUTLET OF EACH OF SAID CLEANING FLUID VALVE MEANS, SAID ASPIRATING MEANSINCLUDING